Pittsfield couple injured in motorcycle crash

PITTSFIELD, Maine — A husband and wife were hospitalized with serious injuries Sunday after they were thrown from a motorcycle, according to Pittsfield Police Department Sgt. Timothy Roussin.

Glenn and Patricia Varney of Waverly Avenue in Pittsfield were traveling out of town on Main Street on their Harley-Davidson motorcycle at about 1:30 p.m. In the area of 534 Main St., according to Roussin, the couple passed a family member’s house and Glenn Varney, who was driving, beeped to someone who was outside doing lawn work. He didn’t notice that a Toyota Camry driven by Arthur Ouellette, 56, was slowing to turn into his home next door.

The motorcycle hit the back of the Toyota and both Varneys, who were not wearing helmets, were thrown from the bike.

Glenn Varney, 44, suffered multiple broken bones, and Patricia Varney, 41, suffered a major head injury, according to Roussin.

The Varneys have children, but Roussin did not know how many or their ages. The Varneys were taken to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor — Patricia Varney by LifeFlight helicopter. Glenn Varney was listed in fair condition Monday afternoon, according to an EMMC spokeswoman. No information was available about Patricia Varney’s condition.

In addition to Roussin, officers from the Maine State Police, Somerset County Sheriff’s Department and rescue workers from Pittsfield Fire Department and Sebasticook Valley Hospital assisted at the scene.

Roussin said witness statements and a reconstruction of the crash indicated driver inattention was to blame for the accident. No charges against any of the people involved are expected.